Combination humidifier, cigar lighter, and ash tray arrangement



Nov. 7, 1933. w. 1.. LINDGREN 2 COMBINATION HUMIDIFIER, CIGAR LIGHTER,AND ASH TRAY ARRANGEMENT Filed Jan. 13, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 7,1933. w. L. LINDGREN 1,933,632

4 COMBINATION HUMIDIFIER, CIGAR LIGHTER, AND ASH TRAY ARRANGEMENT FiledJan. 13, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 7, 1933 PATENT OFFICECOMBINATION HUMIDIFIER, CIGAR LIGHTER, MENT AND ASH TRAY ARRANGE-Waldemar L. Lindgren, Waukegan, Ill.

Application January 13, 1932. Serial No. 586,309

5 Claims.

The present invention relates to a combination humidifier, cigar lighterand ash tray arrangement and particularly to one which may be readilyused on a table or desk as an ornament.

An object of the present invention is to provide a humidifier which issmall and compact and which may be placed on a table or desk for use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a small, compacthumidifier having as a part thereof a cigar lighter and which alsosupports ash trays or like receptacles.

A further object of the invention is to provide a humidifier in whichvaporization is accomplished by electrical means and wherein the fluidforms a part of the vaporizing circuit.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a 'novelvaporizing member for a humidifier and the like.

The above, other and further objects of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description, accompanying drawings and appendedclaims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment of the presentinvention and the views thereof are as follows:

Figure 1 is a top plan view, partially in section, of a humidifierarrangement constructed in accordance with principles of the presentinvention.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the humidifierillustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical section through thevaporizing unit or member showing details of construction of the same.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of one means for guiding the needle valvewhich figure is taken substantially in the plane of the line IV-IV' ofFigure 2.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the bowl of the vaporizing part of thehumidifier showing some partsin section and taken substantially in theplane of line VV of Figure 2. I

Figure 6 is a bottom'plan view of the electrical connections tothevaporizer.

tervals with openings 4 forventilating purposes,

The outside of the bottom 1 is covered with a. felt pad 5 while on theinside of the bottom 1 is provided an asbestos pad 6 to prevent theescape of heat through the bottom 1 and thus prevent damage to thehumidifier support.

The vaporizer B comprises a bowl 7 and a cover. 8. The bowl 7 rests onthe top 3 of the base A, whereas the cover 8, which is dished ininverted position, is secured to the bottom of the reservoir C. Thecover 8 is illustrated as 5; circular and having itscircumferenceslightly less in diameter than the circumference of the upper margin ofthe bowl '7. The cover 8 is so disposed with respect to the bowl 7 as tohave its circumferential margin thereof substantially 7' coincident withor lying slightly below the upper margin of the bowl 7 and spacedinwardly therefrom'to provide escape for the vapor created within thevaporizer B.

The reservoir C is'formed of sheet metal and is fastened at its bottomto the cover 8 in any suitable manner such as by spot welding or thelike. The upper portion of the reservoir C has a bead 9 formedthereabout for strengthening purposes. 3

A lid 10 is provided for the reservoir which is in dished form and whichhas a marginal bead 11 for strengthening and finishing purposes.

The reservoir C is supported on the base A by legs 11 the lower ends ofwhich are suitably at- 5 tached to the base A and the upper ends ofwhich are riveted or welded to the reservoir as indicated at 12. It mustbe observed that the vaporizer B and the reservoir C are supported andcar- I ried by the base A.

The bottom of the reservoir C is provided with a centrally disposedopening 13 and the cover 8 is provided with a funnel-shaped opening orpassage 14 communicating with the opening 13 in the reservoir for fluidpassage from the reservoir into the vaporizer B.

For controlling fluid passage from the reservoir C to the vaporizer B aneedle valve 15 is disposed within the reservoir and has its pointed end16 disposed to enter the funnel-shaped open- 190 ing 14 in the cover 8.The upper end of the needle valve 15 is supported by a strap 17 fastenedacross the top of the reservoir inwardly of the sides thereof whichstrap has end flanges 18 riveted or welded at 19 to the reservoir. Thelower end of the needle valve 15 is guided by two braces 20 and 21 whichare illustrated as riveted at 22 and c 23 tothe interior of thereservoir C adjacent the opening 13. Each of the braces 20 is provided.with a' semi-circular recess 24 which recess llO surrounds the needlevalve 15 when the parts are assembled and serves as a guide for thelower end of the valve. The needle valve 15 is provided with a collar orother shoulder 25 disposed below the braces 20 and 21 for limiting theupward movement of the needle valve in service.

A threaded bushing 26 is secured in the strap 17 which cooperates withthe threaded portion 27 of the needle valve which valve is provided atits outer end with a knurled end 28 whereby the valve may be rotated foropening or closing passage thru the funnel 14 of the cover 8.

The lid 10 is provided with a centrally disposed opening 29 throughwhich the needle valve extends and which opening serves also as meansfor air entrance to the reservoir.

The illustrated form of vaporizing member shows a plate 30 circular inplan and formed of porcelain or other suitable material. The plate 30 isprovided with apertured bosses 31 through which pass bolts 32 forsecuring the plate in position, also for fastening together the bowl 7and the base A.

The bottom of the bowl 7, as well as the top of the base A, containapertures 33 through which pass the lugs or bosses 31 on the plate 30.Likewise the bottom. of the bowl 7 and the top 3 of the base A areprovided with apertures 34 for receiving insulating washers 35 whichinsulate the electrodes 36 and 37 from the cover and base. An insulatingfiller 38 is interposed between the bottom of the bowl 7 and the plate30 and an insulating block 39 is disposed against the underside of thetop 3 of the base A. The plate 30, the blocks 38 and 39 are fastened inposition by the bolts 32 which bolts also serve to secure the vaporizerB to the base A.

i The upper surface of the plate A is illustrated as provided with anannular ridge 40 and a centrally disposed knob 41 there being a grooveor gutter 42 thus formed between the knob 41 and the ridge 40. The knob41 projects above the ridge 40.

The electrodes 36 and 37, as illustrated, each constitute a flat memberinserted through suitably disposed openings in block 39, the washers 34,the filler block 38 and the plate 30 and have the upper ends thereofbent over at 43 to bear against a portion of the groove or gutter 42which ends 43 extend downwardly in said groove or gutter.

The other ends of the electrodes 36 and 37 are provided with bindingposts 44 which fasten elec trical conductors 45 and 46 to the electrodes36 and 37.

There are provided main binding posts 47 and 48 similar to the bolts 32.From the binding post 48 the conductor 45 joins the electrode 36 andfrom the binding post 47 the conductor 46 joins the electrode 37.

Extending from the binding post 47 is a spring contact arm 49, while asimilar spring contact arm 50 extends from the binding post 48 for apurpose to be later explained.

The strap 17 is provided with studs 51 arranged one on each side of theneedle valve 15 which studs at the upper ends enter a slot 52 in the lid10 for the purpose of centering the same and retaining the lid inposition on the reservoir C.

A handle 53 is fastened by bolts 54 to the lid 10.

The lid 10 is provided at intervals with struckup ledges 55 which ledgesare provided with bayonet slots 56.

A plurality of receptacles 57, such as ash trays, dishes or the like,are provided with studs 58 on the bottoms of the dishes. Studs 58 enterthe bayonet slots 56 and thus removably secure a dish or receptacle 57to one of the ledges 55, there being as many receptacles 57 secured tothe lid 10 as there are ledges 55, there being six (6) illustrated inthe accompanying drawings.

Suitably attached to the base A is a socket 58 which carries a cigar orcigarette lighter indicated generally at 59. The lighter is of theaxially movable type which is moved inwardly to energize the heatingelement there present. The inward movement of the lighter 59 will engagethe spring contacts 49 and 50, thus placing in circuit with the bindingposts 47 and 48 the heating element of the lighter for purposes wellunderstood.

The base A carries line terminals 60 and 61, the former of which isassociated with binding post 47 and the latter of which is associatedwith binding post 43. The terminals 60 and 61 are of well-known type andengage a suitable connector of an electric line.

Figure 2 illustrates the connector 61 as in electrical connection withits binding post 48 by means of a suitable conductor such as 62. Thereis another conductor 63 provided for connection with the binding post60.

The device of the present invention is compactand made in such manner asto be readily ornamental and small enough so that it may be easily usedon a desk or table without annoyance or inconvenience or withoutoccupying too much space.

When it is desired to use the apparatus as a humidifier, the reservoir Cis filled with a fluid such as water as indicated in dotted lines inFigure 2. The needle valve 15 is adjusted so that the water dripsthrough the funnel member 14 onto the knob 41 whereupon the fluid isevenly spread by gravity over this knob falling into the gutter orgroove 42 of the plate 30. or gutter gradually fills with the fluiduntil such time that the same contacts the ends 43 of the electrodes 36and 37 whereupon the fluid becomes a part of the electrical circuit ofthe vaporizer so that current passes through the fluid, vaporizing it.The vapor escapes through the space between the margin of the cover 8and the bowl 7, humidifying the atmosphere. The position of the shoulderor collar 25 on the needle valve 15 is such as to prevent opening of thevalve to an extent whereby the fluid within the reservoir C can quicklypass into the vaporizer. It is of course understood a gradual or dripfeed of the fluid will be sufiicient for maintaining the humidifier inaction once the gutter or groove 42 has been filled to a point where theends 43 of the electrodes 36 and 37 are electrically connected by thefluid.

Should, perchance, the fluid overflow the gutter or groove 42 it wouldthen pass down over the ridge 40 and against the binding posts 47 and 48thus creating a short which would have the effect of increasing thevaporizing effect in vaporizing the overflow liquid or fluid.

The lid 10 may be readily removed by means of the handle 53 and thereceptacles or trays 57 removed from the lid for individual use asdesired. The removal of the lid 10 may be accomplished withoutinterfering with the setting of the needle valve 15 because of theprovision of the central opening 29 in the lid which is large enough tofreely pass over the knurled end 28 of the needle valve.

The provision of the bayonet slot 56 in the ledges 55 and of the stud 58on the undersides of This groove 1 receptacles 57 enable readyapplication to or removal from these ledges of these receptacles.

The cigar lighter 59 is handily disposed on the base A and may beactuated by pressure against the same in the usual manner.

The humidifier may also be placed on a shelf, ledge or counter forconvenient use as a cigar lighter, while at the same time functioning tohumidify the atmosphere.

The invention has been described herein more or less precisely as todetails, yet it is to be understood that the invention is not limitedthereby, as changes may be made in the arrangement and proportion ofparts and equivalents may be substituted without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A humidifier including in combination, a fluid reservoir, a bowlthereunder, a cover for said bowl providing a restricted vapor outlet, agrooved member within said bowl, said member having a knob thereon,there being an outlet from said reservoir opening over said knob, aneedle valve for controlling passage through said outlet, and electrodesin said grooved member which are put in circuit relationship by fluidwithin said groove, and the extremities of said electrodes lying thesame distance above the bottom of the grooves in said grooved member.

2. A humidifier including in combination, a fluid reservoir, avaporizer, said reservoir having an outlet therefrom leading to saidvaporizer, a valve in said outlet, a strap across the top of saidreservoir for guiding said valve, and other guides within said reservoirfor said valve disposed adjacent the outlet.

3. A humidifier, including in combination, a fluid reservoir having anopening in its bottom, a vaporizer disposed beneath said reservoir, saidvaporizer having a cover secured against the reservoir, said coverhaving a funnel-shaped opening in it as a valve seat in register withthe opening in said reservoir bottom, a needle valve member within saidreservoir and having a pointed end for entering said funnel-shapedopening to control liquid passage between said reservoir and saidvaporizer, and means within said vaporizer for vaporizing liquidreceived from said reservoir.

4. A humidifier, including in combination, a

er, said needle valve member projecting through the opening in saidcover whereby said valve may be adjusted externally of said reservoirfor varying liquid passage through said vaporizer and whereby saidreservoir cover may be applied to and removed from said reservoirwithout disturbing the relationship between said needle valve and itsseat, and means within said vaporizer for vaporizing liquid receivedfrom said reservoir.

5. A humidifier, including in combination, a reservoir having an openingin its bottom, a vaporizer disposed beneath said reservoir, saidvaporizer having a cover secured against the reservoir, said coverhaving a funnel-shaped opening in it as a valve seat in register withthe opening in said reservoir, a needle valve member within saidreservoir and having a pointed end for entering said funnel-shapedopening to control liquid passage between said reservoir and saidvaporizer, a vaporizing member within said vaporizer, said vaporizingmember consisting of a liquid conductor heater comprising a member ofinsulating material formed to provide an upstanding dome and having aridge about and spaced from said dome to provide a liquid receivinggroove at the base of said dome, said member being disposed within saidvaporizer with the dome underlying the funnel-shaped opening in thevaporizer cover, and spaced electrodes extending into the groove of saidvaporizing member and having the extremities of said electrodesterminating in the same horizontal plane, said electrodes being put incircuit by the liquid in said groove and the vaporization of liquid to alevel below said electrodes opening 1 the circuit between theelectrodes.

